How Do I Remove Item from Desktop on Taskbar?

I have activated a list of my desktop icons on the XP Taskbar (Rt click Taskbar, select Toolbars, then Show Desktop). It's very convenient if I want to access the desktop while other windows are open. However, the list also includes My Network Places, something I've purged from the rest of my system (including the desktop!). But shows on this listing for some weird reason...anyone know how to get rid of it? [Rt Click followed by Delete doesn't work.]

 

chrisw--Almost certain this will take a Registry edit. The big problem is finding the correct right click "context" menu to edit. Here are some references that may help, although you could do an Edit|Find in Registry to see what references there are to My Network Places.
http://www.subvers.com/technobabble/html/tweaks/context-menus.htm
http://www.jfitz.com/tips/rclick_custom.html
And here is a program (but you will have to pay something) in addition to a lengthy discussion
http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,3973,21808,00.asp
That article does not mention compatibility with XP, but it was written before XP was released and it does say it is OK with NT.

 

Jim....I agree it may require a registry edit.....there seem to be a couple of references to My Network Places in shell32, but that's something I don't want to mess with since i don't know exactly what I want to do (those references you gave are more for "right clicked" menus, not the desktop listing on the toolbar.) I was hoping there was something less potentially destructive that I could do.

 

a shot in the dark...

Right click on the desktop, select Properties, then Desktop, then Customize Desktop. See if 'My Network Places' is checked in 'Desktop Icons'. If it is uncheck it, should remove that icon from the Desktop (may need to reboot). HTH

B

ps TweakUI also offers this option under 'Desktop' if you have TweakUI

 

chrisw

What you want is an icon on the taskbar to "show desktop" when you need it?

Do you have the show desktop on the taskbar in far left by the Start button?

 

B....My Network Places is not checked.

Bill...Access to the desktop list is on the right, just to the left of the Notification Area (the old Systray). It looks like:

Start.......... Desktop>> and then the tray with various icons. If I click on the >>, I get a list of what's on the desktop.

There is no reference to My Network Places on my PC (according to "Search ") except for 3 registry entries and this "Desktop list "...that's why I suspect it's a registry tweak, sort of like you sometimes do to get something off the Start menu after you've done Add/Remove.

 

chrisw

So you don't have quick launch area on the left?

If you enable quick launch then show desktop is there as an icon which will minimize all windows and show you the desktop for use. Clicking on the show desktop icon again will then put your pages back up when you are through.

Maybe I don't understand what you want to end up with?

 

Bill...no, I don't use/want Quicklaunch. To see what I mean, rt click on the Taskbar, select Toolbars, and click Desktop. You will then get a >> button next to the Notification Area...click that and all your Desktop entries will appear in a list that you can click for access. But my list includes My Network Places, which I don't have! So how do I get it off there? [thnx for your interest, BTW]

 

I also have "My Network Places" listed there and is not on my desktop. I'll have a look around and see if I can see a way to remove it.

 

chrisw--Sorrry I misunderstood.
This reference says it has the fix
http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/article05-001
Otherwise, maybe some help here
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&q="My+Network+Places"